Process of attaching rubber soles to boots and shoes



Jan. 1, 1924 D. A. CUTLER PROCESS OF ATTACHING RUBBER SOLES TO BOOTS AND SHOE S Filed Oct. 4. 1922 jiveiifo 6 a (Ziioiuzy Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES DAVID A. CUTLER, OF ATLANTIC, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS OF ATTACHING RUBBER SOLES TO BOOTS AND SHOES.

Application filed October 4, 1922 Serial No. 592,430.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID A. CUTLER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Atlantic, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Processes of Attaching Rubber Soles to Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is a novel and improved process of applying a sole or sole and heel to a boot or shoe and is applicable to either weltshoe or McKay shoe manufacture, and is capable of utilization in stitch-down work.

\Vhile my invention is primarily of importance in connection with so-called sport footwear or boots and shoes having rubbersoles, it is applicable to any boots and shoes having rubber soles, and the invention primarily consists in my method of applying and'securing the outer rubber or yielding sole or combined sole and heel to the shoe, independently of stitching the same, and in a manner to conceal, protect and cover the stitching, if any, utilized in the construction.

of the shoe to which the elastic outsole is applied. I believe that this method and process, as well as the resulting shoe structure, is a distinct novelty and I wish to claim both these features broadly.

1n carrying out my invention, I make the shoeeither Welt or McKay-in the usual manner, but I secure, during the processes of manufacture. a thin rubber layer or intermediate sole to the shoe insole or to the attached welt. This may be by the usual welt stitching or McKay stitching. Preferably also I form this thin rubbersole of unvulcanized rubber, or a suitable rubber compound. I then prepare the main outer sole, also of yielding material, such as 1111- vulcanized rubber or vulcanizable rubber compound of suitable size, thickness and shape to complete the outsole of the shoe. 1 then coat the contacting surfaces or one of the surfaces and apply the outer sole to the previously attached rubber sole, preferably a thin strip or intermediate sole. These contacting surfaces are coated with a suitable solvent which will act on the rubber itself to partially dissolve the same and permit the two soles by slight pressure and in a short space of time to become thoroughly and substantially integrally united. The resulting shoe is a shoe structure with a substantial thick outersole, the latter secured independently of stitches and protecting the stitches or other securing means holding the thin rubber intermediate sole to the shoe, and yet presenting a surface in thickness equal to that of both the outer and the intermediate sole. 1 find that where unvulcanized rubber is employed as at the outer sole and preferably also as the intermediate sole, that a coating of benzol or the like will sufficiently dissolve the contacting and co-a'cting faces of the two soles as to practically and solidly unify the rubber in both, thus in effect making its own adhesive, fusing or melting the surfaces, and permittingthem to dry as an integralhomogenous mass throughout the entire length and surface of the contacting'portions, thus firmly uniting and securing the outsole or outer portion of the combined sole structure. This process thus enables a shoe to be made with great ease and expedition, the thin intermediate sole being readily stitched. and attached and the heavier wear resisting outer sole being secured without channelling, stitching or other processes or difficulty, simultaneously protecting the stitching or sole securing means utilized in making the shoe, and in securing the intermediate sole.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

' Fig. lis a side view of a welt shoe embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating welt shoe structure; and

Fig. 3 is a corresponding cross-sectional view illustrating McKay shoe structure.

As shown in the drawings, the shoe upper 1, which is of any suitable type, form. material and shape or size, is utilized, being assembled on a last, and where welt shoe processes are employed, an insole 2 is also assembled and the welt 3 secured by the inseam stitching 4. Filling 5 may also be applied as usual in'welt shoe structures, and the intermediate or thin rubber sole 6 is then attached by outsole stitching 7 passing through the welt 3 in usual welt shoe methods of manufacture. The outsole, also of suitable ruober, preferably Colombo or other raw. unvulcanized rubber such as crepe, or latex, 12 of appropriate size is provided, and the contacting surfaces 8 of the intermediate sole 6 and 9 of the outsole 12, or

one of them, are coated with a suitable solvent as above noted. The outsole isthen applied, and suitable pressure supplied until.

the. contacting faces 8 and 9 are united. This unification of the two rubber members is easily effected, being substantially fused or chemically united into an integral mass, and

the shoe is completed. If desired the sole.

12 may also include the heel 15 or a separate heel 15 may be'similarly unified and united to the outer surface of the sole 12 by coating and pressure. Thus I have provided a resulting shoe and a simple method of making same, with the tread surfaces of the sole, or sole and heel, entirely free from attaching instrunientalities. No stitching, no channelling, no heel nailing or the like is required. The stitching 7 is protected from wear and the outer sole and heel are, in effect, more firmly and homogeneously united to the shoe than would be possible by stitching, nailing, stapling or other prior sole attaching de vices.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the feasibility of utilizing my present invention on a Mc- Kay shoe structure. In this form the upper and insole 21 of usual McKay type are assembled on a last. The thin intermediate portion of the outsole 22 is then applied to the insole by cement or otherwise, the last removed and the through and through or McKay stitching 24 is set. Thereupon the outsole section 25 is applied, first coating the contacting faces of the two sections 22 and 25, and suitable pressure completes the soleing of the shoe, thus fully protecting the stitching 24 in the same manner as in welt shoe methods.

The advantages incident to a shoe having a sole of this type, which sole is non-slipping, impervious to water, is wear-resisting, to a high degree, and is capable of use as a sport shoe, either on turn, sod or floors, without. marring the latter, will be appreciated. I

have illustrated a modification .of a sport shoe, utilizing the advantageous features of unvulcanized rubber, latex, crepe or the like, having projecting portions of the rubber extending through the stitch receiving layer, in various forms, in my copending apamas? plication 670,864, filed October 26, 1923. wherein these modifications are claimed.

In the present application ll wish to claim broadly the method of applying a sole of rubber or the like to a shoe, which consists in.utilizing two layers or sections, the first layer being mechanically secured to the shoe structure, and the second or outersole layer being of suitable cooperating material to be secured to and united to the mechanically attached layer by incorporating the two into a unified, single, integral mass, by the chemical fusion or the like as above explained. By havin the two layers or sole sections formed 0 cooperating rubber material, so that a coating of benzol or equivalent solvent can be applied to the contacting surface or surfaces of either or both these layers, thus partially dissolving the surface so coated, and then applying the two layers together, holding them in united position with slight pressure, and preferably without heat, I carry out my process in a simple, expeditious, economical and eflicient manner. Furthermore I thus unite two layers into one complete sole of substantially the same material, viz., crepe rubber or the like, and I wish to claim this feature broadly.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of a claim as follows:

The improved process of attaching to footwear two layers of unvulcanized rubber unified into a single outsole, which consists in providing two sole-like layers, each of less thickness than that of the combined outsole, first applying one layer to the footwear and securing the same thereto by mechanical fastenings, then partially dissolving either or both of the contacting surfaces'of the layers to be united, and then applying and holding the outer layer to the surface of the mechanically attached layer, until the partially dissolved surfaces become unified, whereby a complete solidified outersole of unvulcanized rubber is produced, having the mechanical attachments concealed therein.

In testimony whereof, ll. have signed my name to this specification.

DAVID A. CUTLER. 

